Known as a subject matter expert in indoor air quality management, Jim Clark, owner of Environmental Solutions and Services, or ESS, .began researching an area of his business that he believed was lacking back in fall 2019. While he saw the need for a product that could deep clean for mold, pathogens and viruses, Clark had no idea how vital this product would become.
When the coronavirus pandemic escalated in March 2020, Clark, a degreed mechanical engineer and Board-certified indoor environmental consultant, had just started cleaning with Steramist, a disinfecting fog/mist that goes everywhere in a room, leaving no residue. It also dries within seconds of application. In as little as five seconds, Steramist attacks bacteria and pathogens as part of a three-step process that keeps the treated surface protected for up to one year.
The three steps of the process include: Identify the problem and its source with a visual diagnosis and samples; disinfect and deodorize the area with Steramist; and protect and prevent with an antimicrobial product.
There are other products on the market that can disinfect in a similar way to Steramist — what makes Clark’s product unique is the short dwell time, the absence of residue after applied and the amount of time surfaces remain safe from germs. The products of the three-step process are also EPA and FDA approved.
Clark explained, “Typical disinfectants would work for a day. Some similar products leave residue and have to be wiped, which runs the risk of contamination. And there are other products that have a dwell time for longer than five seconds – some up to 10 minutes. That would require an extensive amount of time to clean the space, and some products only last for three months.”
The three-step process is also totally safe. “We clean kitchens of restaurants and day cares. The business can re-enter just 15 minutes after we have cleaned the space,” he noted.
One of the most important aspects of the three-step process is the cost savings. Clark gave the example of a 4,000-square-foot space, paying about $800 every two weeks for cleaning before the pandemic. After the pandemic, they are cleaning every week, if not more often. “That is over $20,000 more a year,” Clark pointed out. “Deep cleaning with ESS can save thousands of dollars.”
Clark couldn’t give an estimated cost on a treatment for any particular space, due to the fact that it depends on the size of the space, what kind of business it is and if the cleaning is due to a positive coronavirus case or being wisely proactive. He explained that most companies want that peace of mind that their space is indeed sterilized.
“Our three-step process brings a level of comfort back to an indoor space. When you know we’ve treated that space, you will feel more comfortable with going back to work,” he said. “And [businesses] can enjoy the cost savings of returning back to their pre-COVID cleaning habits.”
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